This is a beautiful 35 acre park that was designed in the style of Frederick Law Olmsted, the founder of landscape architecture in America.

Olmsted was also the designer of the Village of Pinehurst, Central Park in NY, Lake Shore Park in Milwaukee, Niagara Falls and many other beautiful parks around the country.

This is a beautiful park, there are trails through the woods, beautiful wooden bridges over little streams, a magnolia park and so much more.

In addition to the beautiful park, there is a farmers market, a playground for kids and so much more. Not to mention it is close to the village of Pinehurst, where there are beautiful shops, spa and the Carolina Inn.

In this part of the gardens, there are many butterflies, and bees!

There is beauty even after the petals shrivel and turn brown.

We spent many hours here, walking the trails, playing at the playground and of course picking up some pine cones and acorns.

I hope you have a great week! And I hope you enjoy the flowers, even of they are only on a screen.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Hello! Did you enjoy your long Memorial Day weekend? What did you do? Watch a parade? Attend a barbecue or two? Salute a veteran? Work in your garden? Visit family?

I went to visit family, and I enjoyed every minute. OK, maybe not when we got a speeding ticket for 9 miles over the speed limit, while my husband was driving and taking a conference call at the same time but the rest was great. I love seeing the old barns and wild flowers along the road, spending time with my mom and my niece and nephew and of course making things in the kitchen with the kids. One of the things we made was this Banoffee dessert.

This recipe is YUMMY! I know that my friends in England have had this dessert because it was "invented" there; I have eaten it in England and several places in the US. Typically, you find it in pie form but I like to make it in individual servings.

This is the simplest recipe ever, it is four ingredients, can it get any easier?

Boil UNOPENED can of condensed milk for two hours, monitor the water level so the water does not boil off, you want the can to be submerged at all times. LET CAN COOL.

Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and press into pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Set aside. When condensed milk is cooled open can and pour on crust. Slice bananas over top of crust. Whip heavy cream and sweeten to taste with powdered sugar. Spread the whipping cream over the top of the banana's and the caramel, and then sprinkle with crumbs or chopped chocolate.

I personally think it is best eaten after it has been refrigerated for at least an hour or two.

You can also make these in ramekins or little pudding cups as I did. That way if you like more banana's, more caramel or more whipping cream than you can add it to your dish.

I hope that you enjoy this dessert.

I am looking forward to catching up with all of my favorite blogs, I have missed reading them over the weekend. Have a great week!

UPDATE:

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH BOILING CONDENSED MILK, OR DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE, YOU CAN PURCHASE DELUCE DE LECHE IN A CAN AT THE GROCERY STORE, TYPICALLY IN THE MEXICAN FOOD SECTION.

ALSO: HERE IS A RECIPE FROM MARTHA STEWART IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN: HERE.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Memorial Day is Monday and in the midst of all of the barbeque's and celebrations, let us remember what the day is really all about.

Hundreds of thousands of men and women are deployed all over the world to protect our country. Their families are left behind sacrificing their time, their birthdays, and their holidays with mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in some cases grandparents, as well as, friends.

I speak from experience, many of my friends and relatives have served and continue to serve in the military and I can tell you they are never far from my mind; especially when I see how their deployment affects their families.

So, this weekend, I ask that you take a minute and think of all of these people, including many of our blogging friends and their family members and pray for their safety while they are deployed.

Let us hope and pray they all come home safe to the welcoming arms of their parents, and children and their friends.

To our troops in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard, I salute you and thank you!

If you would like more information on the history of Memorial Day visit here. Have a good day!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

I love the smell of a charcoal grill and I love a burger with all of the fixings. I think I make potato salad almost every weekend along with many other fixings for a barbeque. As this weekend is Memorial Day weekend I thought it might be fun to compile some inspiration for a great afternoon meal with friends and family.

Hamburgers, traditional with lettuce, ketchup and may or blue cheese and red onion or even blue cheese, bacon and caramelized onion. Yum!

Hot Dogs

Potato Salad, blue cheese and new potato salad, or perhaps grilled corn, tomatoes and sliced potato's or maybe a twist on a seven layer salad. All great options.

Drinks, lemonade with fresh berries, water with cucumber slices, or perhaps some beer and wine.

I hope that you find a few favorites or a few new ideas here. What are your favorite barbecue foods? Do you frequently bring or make a family favorite? If so tell us all about it, I love to try new things!

I hope you enjoy your Wednesday! The three day weekend is almost here!

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